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Considerring an HVAC career need advice

Hi Everyone.
I'm an airline pilot about to lose my job along with 10,000 + others. No airlines are hiring, and wont be for approximately 4 years. I need to learn a new trade in the mean time, and preferrably as a side-line when I get back to an airline job someday.

I've been wrenching on my own apartment units for years, but it would be nice to know HVAC to become a pro apartment manager myself...

I am considering an HVAC school to learn a new trade, but I want to chose wisely.

1. I live in the San Francisco Bay area. Are the prospects good for work there? .

2. What is a good school. Online vs local Jr College?

Appreciate any serious advice,
Thanks,

And don't let your kids grow up to be pilots....and if they insist, learn a trade too !!

cant answer that question i dont know anything about that area. but good luck with it

edit: i would go for a more handson that is just the way i learn they can talk about it for hours but before i perform the task i dont have the attention span to pay attention on something that i know i am going to be doing handson later so i just didnt stress about paper stuff- but in the shop it all came together and your like ohhhh so that what they meant by "Flux Capacitor" (back to the future) lol

have to agree with the hands on tec school, but honestly, go talk to employers, and explain to them what your goal is. Ask for a installer starting position, and advise them that you will be attending tech school nights and weekends. This is the best way to get your foot in the door as it were.

I r the king of the world!...or at least I get to stand on the roof and look down on the rest of yall

Hands on tech. school is the only way to go. I learned the mechanical and refrigeration side in the field doing hands on work. Got my electrical and electronics training formally in the class room. That was the best way for me to learn, however I came into the trade with a very strong mechanical back ground.

Like everyone is saying hands on school. I started out as a installer and took evening classes. Now I work at a facility as an Operating Engineer and am happy as ever. Also starting out as an installer will allow you to appreciate being a tech when you finally become one. Also you better like being hot/cold and tired. Because that is the feeling you will experience.

Hi Everyone.
I'm an airline pilot about to lose my job along with 10,000 + others. No airlines are hiring, and wont be for approximately 4 years. I need to learn a new trade in the mean time, and preferrably as a side-line when I get back to an airline job someday.

It's funny.
I was going to go from doing this work to flying.
Had starting getting my ducks in a row,I planned on doing pipe line inspection.
Fly around all day long at 1500 feet,fly someone else's plane, let them worry about fuel, maintenance,hanger rental, insurance,annuals.
Had a bunch of health issues and I'm not even going to try and pass the medical.

Good Luck to ya if this is what you want to do.
If you're gonna do residential, one easy test, would be to go sit in your attic for a few hours,(hottest time of the day) rub insulation all over yourself, and see how long you can take it.

It's funny.
I was going to go from doing this work to flying.
Had starting getting my ducks in a row,I planned on doing pipe line inspection.
Fly around all day long at 1500 feet,fly someone else's plane, let them worry about fuel, maintenance,hanger rental, insurance,annuals.
Had a bunch of health issues and I'm not even going to try and pass the medical.

Good Luck to ya if this is what you want to do.
If you're gonna do residential, one easy test, would be to go sit in your attic for a few hours,(hottest time of the day) rub insulation all over yourself, and see how long you can take it.

As TDW and PSYCHOBILLY (what a name) said, you better be prepared to work in the extreams. Knee deep in snow on a RTU at -10 degrees and 105 with no shade on the same RTU in the summer. You likely wont see the -10 but humidity is KILLER !

Most people that get into this line of work either love it or hate it, there is no in between.

Talk to employers, see what they recommend.

If sense were so common everyone would have it !

All opinions expressed are my own. Any advice provided is based on personal experience, generally accepted fact or publicly available information. As such, it is worth exactly what you paid for it, not a penny more not a penny less !!

As TDW and PSYCHOBILLY (what a name) said, you better be prepared to work in the extreams. Knee deep in snow on a RTU at -10 degrees and 105 with no shade on the same RTU in the summer. You likely wont see the -10 but humidity is KILLER !

Most people that get into this line of work either love it or hate it, there is no in between.

Talk to employers, see what they recommend.

I've learned to love to hate this career.
I never really thought about your extreme.
Ten below in the snow.

I've learned to love to hate this career.
I never really thought about your extreme.
Ten below in the snow.

Oh Yea, I was thawing water lines under a mobile home once at -15. We had the fire Sprinkler Lines Freeze once inside a building, the walk in cooolers were the only heat and they all locked out on low pressure. I don't know how Psychobilly does it in AZ, that is just Too hot ! I've been in Phoenix at 112 and could not conceive working on anything to do with A/C (except turning the t-stat down and having a nice cold beer).

It's not uncommon for us to see -10 to 105 around here (Colorado) but we don't get humidity. People complain when it get to 65% Rh. I was in the Little Apple (Manhattan KS) once when I swear that I could see the humidity, felt like it was 105 %, I hate humidity!!!!!

If sense were so common everyone would have it !

All opinions expressed are my own. Any advice provided is based on personal experience, generally accepted fact or publicly available information. As such, it is worth exactly what you paid for it, not a penny more not a penny less !!

I also love this trade.
And it gets very hot on the roofs here during the summer. Sometimes up to 150*f on a day without any wind. You learn to deal with it. And kinda get used to it. When me and my buddies are at the lake and they say its hot, I laugh and say its nice outside.